Year 2 for general manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen brings with it plenty more change to the Oakland Raiders.

Much of the roster will be barely recognizable come September thanks to an overhaul on defense (with as many as nine new starters) and a change at quarterback (from Carson Palmer to Matt Flynn).

The Raiders are coming off a 4-12 season and have not been better than .500 since 2002. They had consecutive 8-8 seasons in 2010 and 2011, leading to McKenzie's hiring.

"We're trying to compete now," McKenzie told news reporters recently. "Now, how does that result? That's going to depend on the players' performance on the field.

"We're trying to add players that can help this team win, help this team compete. We're going into this season to win ballgames.

"You can call it expansion. It's a lot of different faces. I agree with that. But to say that we're just going to take our lumps and play ball, that's not the goal here. The goal here is to compete each and every week and win games. ... The moves that we had to make, we made them. We will continue to make them through training camp."

McKenzie's imprint has been clear since his arrival with the decision to fire Hue Jackson and bring in Allen as coach and cast aside past first-round picks Michael Huff (2006), Darrius Heyward-Bey (2009) and Rolando McClain (2010), despite the salary cap implications.

"When do you see it start its transformation?" McKenzie said. "Hopefully this season. That's my hope. So you have a good offseason, another draft, and things are coming in place. You have a new coaching staff as far as four coaches that we swapped out. So hopefully it begins to show this year."

The rest of the offense around Flynn returns mostly intact from 2012, with several talented pieces such as running back Darren McFadden and speedy wide receiver Jacoby Ford, although their leading receiver from last year, tight end Brandon Myers, departed in free agency.

But the Raiders, with new offensive coordinator Greg Olson, must find a way to score more points to stay competitive in the AFC West. The Raiders scored more than 20 points once in their last seven games. They averaged 18.1 points a game, 26th in the league.

"We want guys that are football players, not wannabes," McKenzie says. "There's a whole lot of wannabes. They look the part, think they're the guy, but they're not willing to do the work."

A year after losing out to rookie Russell Wilson with the Seattle Seahawks, Flynn has landed in Oakland expecting to get the first starting job of his career. Flynn has a small body of work as the backup to Aaron Rodgers and Wilson — only two career starts, both with the Green Bay Packers — but the Raiders were intrigued enough by his potential, and his price tag, to acquire him in a trade and end Palmer's year and a half with the team.

The Raiders gave up a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a conditional pick in 2015. McKenzie was familiar with Flynn from their time together with the Packers; McKenzie was in the front office when Flynn was drafted.

Oakland also has 2011 supplemental draft pick Terrelle Pryor and fourth rounder Tyler Wilson. Wilson's draft stock fell during a difficult season at Arkansas after the departure of coach Bobby Petrino, but he impressed the Raiders during their first minicamp.

"I've liked the way Tyler's commanded the huddle," Allen said. "I like the way he's gone through his reads. Obviously, picking up a new system, I think there's still a little bit of rust there, but throwing the ball, I think he's done a nice job. I don't have any question about his arm strength and his accuracy."

Running back

When McFadden is healthy, it's hard to find a better running back in the NFL. So the key for the Raiders will be trying to figure out a way, for the first time in his career, to keep McFadden on the field from September to December. McFadden has never played in more than 13 games in a season, and he missed four last year. The Raiders signed former Jacksonville Jaguar Rashad Jennings to be the backup.

Wide receiver

The Raiders cut Heyward-Bey but have a talented duo in Ford and Denarius Moore. Like McFadden, the Raiders will desperately need those two to stay healthy for Flynn with a thin depth chart behind them.

Tight end

Myers, who led the Raiders in receptions with 79, signed as a free agent with the New York Giants. David Ausberry, who has nine career receptions, and Richard Gordon, who is more of a blocking specialist, are expected to battle for the starting spot.

The Raiders drafted Nick Kasa and Mychal Rivera in the sixth round.

Offensive line

The Raiders allowed 27 sacks last season — not bad — and will need to offer similar protection for Flynn to thrive.

Defensive line

This group lost its biggest names and stoutest players when defensive tackles Tommy Kelly, Richard Seymour and Desmond Bryant did not return from a line that finished 31st in sacks with 25. End Lamarr Houston (4½ sacks in 2012) is the key returning player. Free agent additions Pat Sims and Vance Walker will get the first crack at replacing Kelly and Seymour.

The Raiders added two late-round tackles in the draft in Stacy McGee and David Bass.

Linebacker

The Raiders largely turned over this group with the addition of Nick Roach (Chicago Bears), Kaluka Maiava (Cleveland Browns) and Kevin Burnett (Miami Dolphins). Miles Burris was a pleasant surprise as a rookie. But Oakland is hoping to experience improvement on the field and in the meeting room with the dismissal of McClain. They also added third-rounder Sio Moore, the self-proclaimed "best linebacker in the draft."

Secondary

Prodigal son Charles Woodson rejoins the team that drafted him in 1998. Now in the twilight of his career and reunited with McKenzie, Woodson has plenty of wisdom to pass on to the youngsters. The Raiders used their first-round pick on their favorite cornerback in the draft, Houston's D.J. Hayden, who will immediately be a starter in the revamped secondary. Other newcomers include corners Mike Jenkins (Dallas Cowboys) and Tracy Porter (Denver Broncos) and safety Usama Young (Browns).

Special teams

The Raiders lost half of their elite specialist duo when punter Shane Lechler signed with the Texans. At least Oakland has kicker Sebastian Janikowski, but it'll be a challenge to keep him fresh and healthy.

Coaching

Allen's first year as a head coach was a challenge, and 2013 might not be easier. Allen changed offensive coordinators from Greg Knapp to Olson, while defensive coordinator Jason Tarver returns for a second season.